Hi,
I just read Doug Strong's awesome story from LC Nationals. He had mentioned a previous DQ in the meet for something he thought was very questionable. That reminds me...
Does anyone else think the latest backstroke rule is a little silly? I'm talking about the one where one glides into the wall "too long" on their stomach for the turn. To me, as I mentioned, it just seems silly. (1) I believe the rule says that you must have continuous forward motion into the turn. If you are gliding in, which by the way is not faster, then you are moving forward. I've yet to see one stop completely! And (2) there is definitely no advantage to gliding in for that "moment too long" that is the decision of the official.
I have a feeling that this rule will go by the way of some other rules and be gone in the next few years.
Just some thoughts, and a question :)
Karen
I mentioned the "continuous turning motion" because that is exactly what I was told by the official who DQ'd me in the 200 back at Nationals in 199something. I just missed getting first and did my life best by 7 seconds. I was stoked.
I got out and the official (my friend now, but certainly not then, Michael Moore) told me that I glided into my first turn only. I asked him several times for an exact clarification and he couldn't give it to me.
I thought that was the most absurd thing! My first turn, when I have all the speed and momentum from the start, and being fresh at the beginning of the race...
I have never forgotten it to this day. I do take consolation in that Michael also DQ's my husband, who won the 400 IM, by an entire pool length in the same meet. When my husband asked why, Michael told him that on his breaststroke turn one hand was lower than the other on the turn. My husband kept pressing it because (even the video showed it was legal) and Michael's exact words were, "About an inch." Interestingly enough that *** turn rule was changed the next year.
Somebody please change the backstoke rule before a murder is committed at Nationals :p
I mentioned the "continuous turning motion" because that is exactly what I was told by the official who DQ'd me in the 200 back at Nationals in 199something. I just missed getting first and did my life best by 7 seconds. I was stoked.
I got out and the official (my friend now, but certainly not then, Michael Moore) told me that I glided into my first turn only. I asked him several times for an exact clarification and he couldn't give it to me.
I thought that was the most absurd thing! My first turn, when I have all the speed and momentum from the start, and being fresh at the beginning of the race...
I have never forgotten it to this day. I do take consolation in that Michael also DQ's my husband, who won the 400 IM, by an entire pool length in the same meet. When my husband asked why, Michael told him that on his breaststroke turn one hand was lower than the other on the turn. My husband kept pressing it because (even the video showed it was legal) and Michael's exact words were, "About an inch." Interestingly enough that *** turn rule was changed the next year.
Somebody please change the backstoke rule before a murder is committed at Nationals :p
